Parents' Drinking Behavior and Factors Related to Mental Health of their University Student Offspring.

Hyun,  Myungsun; Kang,  Heesun; Kim,  Hyunlye

doi:2011.20.4.355

J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs > Volume 20(4); 2011 > Article

Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 2011;20(4):355-364.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2011.20.4.355 Published online December 31, 2011.

Parents' Drinking Behavior and Factors Related to Mental Health of their University Student Offspring.

Myungsun Hyun, Heesun Kang, Hyunlye Kim

¹College of Nursing, Ajou University, Korea.
²Department of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Korea.
³Yonsei University College of Nursing, Korea. dalim1977@hanmail.net

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to investigate factors related to mental health of university student offspring according to their parents' drinking behavior. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used in this study. A convenience sample of university students were recruited from three universities in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, Korea. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires with 547 university students. The scales used for this study were the Korean version of the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST-K), Symptom Checklist-90-Revision (SCL-90-R), Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale, and the Way of Coping Checklist. RESULTS: Participants were classified into three groups; nondrinking-parents group (53.5%), social drinking-parents group (21.8%), and problem drinking-parents group (24.7%). Participants whose parents were problem drinkers had significantly higher scores on all the subcategories of SCL-90-R compared to those of other groups. In the participants group whose parents were problem drinkers, mental health problem had a significant positive correlation to passive coping methods and a negative correlation to self-esteem. There was a significant negative relationship between self-esteem and positive coping methods. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate the mental health of university students may be negatively affected by their parents' drinking behaviors. Special attention and early interventions are needed for university students whose parents have drinking problems.

Key Words: Alcohol drinking; Parent; Mental health; Adult children